PFAS exposure and how it changes reward processing
Official title: PFAS induced alterations in reward processing
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11467291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies whether early life exposure to PFAS could affect brain reward systems and potentially contribute to conditions like anhedonia in humans and animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Award (this year) | $538,810 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035019-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with known PFAS exposure or those in communities with PFAS contamination, particularly families with children.
✕Less likely to help
People without PFAS exposure or those not involved in studies related to PFAS and neurodevelopment are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Purdue University will use a translational approach to see if PFAS exposure during development alters reward processing. The project combines mouse studies with human data to link brain-level PFAS exposure to behavior and neurotransmission related to motivation and pleasure. They will create a brain-specific dosing strategy and test behavioral changes in mice that mirror reward- processing issues seen in some psychiatric conditions. The work aims to connect animal findings with human relevance to better understand potential long-term neurotoxic effects of PFAS. This is an integrated, multi-aim plan to translate lab results into implications for human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could improve understanding of how environmental PFAS exposure impacts brain reward circuits and inform public health strategies to reduce risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown PFAS-related neurodevelopmental effects, but translating to human reward processing is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cannon, Jason R — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Cannon, Jason R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.